Refrigerator



March 17, 1942.-

A. CORD OVA REFRIGERATOR 'Filed May 6, 1941 2 Sheets$heet l- A. CORDOVA REFRIGERATOR March 17, 1942.

Filed May 6,; 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Man 17, 1942 TE STATES? PATENT orrlcl-z 2,278,937 ncrarosrm'roa Arturo CordovalBanes, @uba Application may 6, 19st, Serial No. 392,139

2 mines.

My invention relates to refrigerators and has as one of the principal objects thereof the pro vision of a refrigerator equipped with a container or frame disposed in confronting relation with the food compartment and postjacent the door and which container is so constructed and arranged whereby receptacles, for instance, tanks, bottles, jars and the like may be positioned therein for subjecting their contents to the cooling air of the refrigerator.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the above described character which is hinged to the refrigerator prejacent the food compartment whereby said device and its contents may be pivoted outwardly to permit access to the food compartment.

An important object of my invention is to provide a device of the character described which is simple in construction, durable in use, efficlent in operation and economical in manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, appended claims and annexed drawings.

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views:

Figure l is a perspective view of a refrigerator equipped with my invention.

Figure '2 is a perspective view of a tank for mounting within the frame. V

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the frame illustrating the parts thereof in open position whereby the tank may be removed from or inserted therein.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view of the upper section of my invention.

Figure 5 is a front elevation of a refrigerator and illustrating a modified form of my invention in association therewith.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 and illustrating a furthermodiflcation of my invention.

In practising my invention, as illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive of the drawings, I employ a refrigerator 5 of ordinary construction and which is equipped with the usual door 6- for closing the food compartment l, the latter being provided with the usual shelves 8 and an evaporator unit 9. Disposed in confronting relation with the food compartment 1, is a container or frame It), the latter being provided with top and bottom walls ii and i2 respectively and a pair of side walls l3 and it respectively,

The upper and lower ends of the side wall H havefixed thereto oppositely extending trunnions i5 disposed in recesses formed in the top and bottom walls of the compartment 1 adjacent the hinged portion of the door t whereby said frame may be pivoted outwardly to pet access to the compartment l. The side wall 88 has its lower end pivotally connected to the adjacent end of the bottom wall it and its upper end pivotally connected to a latch member 86 overlying the adjacent or prozrimous end of the top wall ii and formed with a downwardly disposed detent ill irictionaliy secured within a groove is formed in said top wall. The distal end of the top wall 9 9, adjacent the trunnion i5, is hinged, as at as, to the upper end of the side wall id.

As clearly illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings, when the latch member it is disposed out of engagement with the top wall "i i, the side wall it may be hinged downwardly and the top wall it upwardly whereby a tank it may be removed or inserted within the frame or container it. The tank it is provided with an open top normally closed by the top wall i i and with a bottom disposed an appreciable distance superiacent the bottom wall it. The sides of the tank extend a material distance subjacent its bottom and have their lower ends connected together by means of a transverse wall 22. The sides and transverse wall 22 of the tank are disposed in appressed relation with the inner faces of the side and bottom walls of the frame and the top wallll of the frame is provided with an inlet opening is normally closed by a hinged closure plate- 24 whereby liquid or the like may be introduced within the tank.

The bottom of the tank is provided with a faucet 25 whereby liquid contained within the tank may be drawn therefrom. The walls ii,v

i2, i3 and i i are each formed with a pair of spaced inwardly disposed flanges 2% for embracing the adjacent portions of the tank whereby to maintain said tank within the frame against accidental displacement. The transverse wall 22 serves as a supporting shelf whereby relatively small receptacles, for instance, bottlesf cans, jars or the like may be positioned within the frame and their contents, together with that of the tank, subjected to the cooling influence of the compartment '5. I

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that I have provided a receptacle, which when hinged in front of the food compartment of a refrigerator and postjacent the door. enables liquid contained within the tank to be kept cool, together with the contents of any receptacles disposed within the container as heretofore described. Furthermore, it will also be apparent that by hinging the container outwardly ready v access may be had to the food compartment without disturbing any of the receptacles disposed withinthe container or frame.

In the modified fox .1 illustrated in Figure the'refrigerator' 30 is provided with a pair of hinged containers or frames 3i constructed in a similar manner as the frame disclosed in the preferred embodiment.

As illustrated in Figure 6, the hinged frame 4B is provided with a pair of liquid tanks ll disposed in side to side relation in said frame whereby different liquids may be maintained at a cool temperature.

Without further elaboration the foregoing will so fullyexplain the invention that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for useunder various conditions of service. Moreover, it is not indispensable that all thefeatures of the invention be used conjointly since they may be employed advantageously in various combinations and s -combinations.

It is obvious that the invention is not confined tothe herein described use therefor as it may be utilized for any purpose to which it is adaptable. It is therefore to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific construction as illustrated and described as the same is only illustrative of the principles of operation, which are capable of extended application in various forms, and that the invention comprehends all construction'within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is: v

1. In combination with a refrigerator provided with a food compartment and a door normally closing said compartment, a frame hinged to said refrigerator in confronting relation with said compartment and postiacent said door and operable to open position upon opening of said door, and a tank carried by said frame and movable with the latter to open position to permit free access to said compartment upon opening of said door, said frame provided with a pair of hinged members normally embracing said tank and operable to open position to efiect removal of said tank from said frame.

2. In combination with a refrigerator provided with a food compartment and a door normally closing said compartment, a frame hinged to said refrigerator in confronting relation with said compartment and postiacent said door and operable to open position upon opening of said door, a tank carried by said frame and movable with the latter to open position to permit free access to said compartment upon opening of said door, said frame provided with a pair of hinged members normally embracing said tank and operable to open position to effect removal of said tank from said frame, and means including a latch member connectingsaid hinged members together for maintaining said tank within said frame. ARTURO CORDOVA. 

